Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 71, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 July 1924 — Page 7
THURSDAY, JULY 31,1924
STATE EXAMINERS , SAT CONTRACTORS VlOUm ORDER Omitted Materia! in Building Infirmary, Board Reports, George A. Weaver & Son, contractors, who built the additions to the Marion County Infirmary, are charged with $3,390.80 for omission of material and disregarding specifications in a report of the State board of accounts, made public today. The examiners also show that no bid was ever received from Weaver, but that he was granted the contract, for which' $130,000 had beei% appropriated, on the day following receiving of four regular bids. The lowest bid was by the Service Construction Company for $96,963. Weaver got the for $86,342 the next day. the report says. Weaver also built the county insane asylum, for alleged discrepancies in the construction of which he was charged by the accounts board. Disregarded Specifications The report shows that vfeaver presented to the county officials an estimated extra of $3,527 for deepening most of the foundation two kfeet more than the specified three 'feet. The officials allowed the extra. The examiners found the foundation eleven inches short and charged Weaver $1,757 for omission of concrete and excavation on the item. One examiner said water from the eaves had cut under the wall in one place and flooded the space beneath the floor. Where solid concrete walls were specified, hollow block was found. Weaver was charged $1,073 for the omission of concrete. For rafters emitted in the roof construction, the contractors were charge $437.05 and for wall plates omitted, $11.92. A general condemnation of the brick work was made, declaring the bricks were not uniform in color, they were not uniformly laid and that partition walls were not true, and were an inch less in width than specified. Foundation walls were eight instead of nine inches, the report says. Report Hollow Block Used That the architect and superintendent declared laying of a hollow block foundation, instead of poured concrete, was resorted to to speed up the work and facilitate plumbing and heating installation was declared by examiners no legitimate reason for so doing. The report showed the commissioners agreed to accept the work after Weaver made a few repairs and deducted SSOO from - the balance of $12,921.30 due on the contract. The commissioners allowed the claim, but the auditor refused to pay it. The report deducts the total charge of $3,390.80 from the balance due and allows the contractor only $9,540.40. Roland M. Cotton Company had ,the heating and plumbing contracts for $13,242 and $9,666, respectively, and the Sanborn Electric Company bad the $1,941 electric contract. Nd fault was found with execution of these contracts. The county still owes Cotton $3,483 and Sanborn $707.50.
PAVING CHANGE REFUSED Board of Works Says Time Limit for Remonstrance Had Passed. A plea to change the paving ma- \ teriaj on Indianapolis Ave. between I Fall Creek Blvd. and Twenty-Fffth St. has been denied by the board of j works. James M. Ogden, city attor- j nej% held that a remonstrance was filed after the legal time limit. Property owners headed by President Walter W. Wise of city council demanded concrete Instead of asphalt. J. N. Morgan, contractor, infortned the city that paving work ▼ajued at $5,000 had already been dona. Property owners are considering seeking an Injunction. POLICE CHIEF IS FIRED KertrJram Can't “Catch 'Em,” Con nersville Safety Board Rules, gy United Press CONNERSVILLE, Ind.. July 31. A successor to Everett Ketchum as chief of police of Connersville was to be named today. Ketchum, who has been under fire for alleged lax enforcement of the liquor laws, tendered his resignation at the request of members of the board of safety. Ketchum told his critics that If they could do a better job of law enforcement they were welcome to his position. "• Victim of Gas Improves Jaems Daum, 55. of 844 Lincoin St., who Is in Methodist Hospital suffering from the effects of gas that he inhaled while making a connection of lines in the office of Dr. Leonidas Smith, 308 Bankers Trust Bldg., Wednesday, is improving.
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$15,000,000 APPROPRIATION TO SATISFY DEMANDS FOR ‘PORK’ By ROBERT M. LA FOLLETTE
* “MY OWN STORY" Is an exclusive newspaper version of one of the great autobiographies of modern times: La FolleUe's own story of adventures in politics as written by himself tn 1912, together with an authorized narrative of his experiences in the years isnee then. SYNOPSIS OF PREYIOI'S INSTALLMENTS La Follette enters political life, immediately comes into conflict with Wisconsin political bossism: nevertheless is elected district attorney of Dane County, makes good in this position, and then is elected to Congress despite the opposition of the “Madison ring." Senator Sawyer is at this time one of the dominant figures in Wisconsin politics. He promises La Follette a place on the Committee on Public Lands. Because, however. he has shown too frank an interest in land-grant forfeitures. La Follette finds himself instead on the Committee on Indians Affairs. Now he undertakes to learn all he can about Indians. I soon found out why Sawyer had secured my appointment to the committee on Indian affairs. It was the first illuminating glimpse I had of the inside methods of political organization. Wellborn of Texas was then chairman of this fommittfe. He strongly resembled Stephen -A. Douglas, was an a file man and a real orator. Cleveland appointed him Federal ’udge in California where he made a fine record. Wellborn appointed me a subcommittee of one to consider a bill introduced by Guenther of Oshkosh to sell the pine timber from the Menominee Indian Reservation In Wisconsin. Guenther represented Sawyer's congressional district. When I began to study the bill more closely, it seemed to me to offer unlimited .oportunities for stealing the timber from the Indians. I concluded to consult J. D. C. Atkins, the commissioner of Indian affairs, about it. He read the bill through; then he looked at me over his glasses and said: “Mr. La Follette, I think this is a little the worst Indian bill I ever saw." “Will you write me a letter as commissioner, saying so?” I asked.
Gets Letter In due time I got his letteh and A few days later Guenther came to me and said; “Bob, whj’’ don't you report that bill out?” I told him It was a bad bill and that I should report It adversely. “Oh, don’t do that.” he said. “I know nothing about the bilL Sawyer askad me to Introduce It. and he introduced one exactly like it 'in the Senate. He has passed his bill over there and he wants me to get the Hous6 bill favorably reported and on the calendar by the time his bill comes over.” When I insisted that I would not report it favorably, that ended It and the bill died In committee. Sawyer never spoke to me about the affair. I was very soon to meet this question of political self-seeking in another form. My first speech in Congress was made on April 22, lffs6. It was on the so-called “pork barrel" bill for river and harbor appropriations. I was then, as now, heartily In favor of generous expenditures of national funds for waterways and harbors, but the scramble for unwarranted appropriations was not short of scandalous. The bill called for $15,000,000, the largest amount at that time ever appropriated. It ignored the recommendations of the Government engineers that sixty-three improvements already begun should be completed, and provided for completing only five of these unfinished improvements. This recommendation was ignored in order to use the funds to start over one hundred new Improvements to satisfy the demands for “pork." I argued that if the sums necessary to complete unfinished work were used to inaugurate new improvements, then the next Congress would be compelled to set aside still larger appropriations merely to keep* pace with the destruction resulting from the action of the elements upon the uncompleted Improvements. I argued that Congressmen should not contend as rivals for these appropriations, each seeking all he could get as a grab for his district, but that they should regard the river and harbor bill as a gTeat national measure. I knew that the bill would pass, as It did, but I felt that I ought at least to express my convictions upon the subject. I did not oppose the bill; I opposed th policy. This little speech—it does not seem of much lmportajsce to me now-—was commented on. not only in Wisconsin, but by the press of the country. The New York Tribune, the New York Sun and other papers gave it favorable editorial notice. This helped me In the contest for renomination. The opposition of Boss Keyes and the Old-time politicians of each of the counties of the district in my first nomination and election warned me of the enemy I would have to meet in the convention of 1886. If I ever expected to serve more than one term in 'the House of Representatives I knew I had to fight for that privilege. It had seemed to me In the very beginning that a public official should
EARLY PICTURE OF LA FOLLETTE. deal directly with the people whom he w-as to serve. I did not'go to Boss Keyes for the office of district attorney. The district attorney was not employed by Keyes* but by the people. The office was not his to bestow; it was theirs. It was the same in the fight for Congress. After I had won the nomination and election it gave me still greater confidence in the people. But while the distinct attorney did his w-ork in the couqty where the voters could see how they were being served. Washington was a long way off. How were the people to know- about the proceedings of Congress, and the work of their congressman? I thought It all over. It was clear to me that the only way to beat boss and ring rule was to keep the people thoroughly informed. Machine control is based upon misrepresentation and ignorance. Democracy is based upon knowledge.
Starts System Immediately following my election to Congress I worked out a complete plan for keeping my constituents informed on public issues and the record of my services in Congress; it is the system I have used in constantly widening circles ever since. t There were five counties in my district. La Fayette. Grant, Green. Dane and- lowa. I secured from the county clerks’ offices a complete list of all the voters who had voted In the last election. I had the names written on large sheets, one township, sometimes two."' to a sheet. Then I sent the sheets to a friend In each county who filled in all the information he could, Indicating especially the strong men in each community—those who were leaders of sentiment. To this information I added the results of my own acquaintance in the district. This gave me a complete descriptive poll list of my district. When some Congressman made a speech on sound money—Reed or Carlisle —I would get the necessary number of copies of that speech, and send them to those Interested in the money question. When the oleomargarine bill, the Interstate commerce bill, and ofrer important legislation was pending, I sent our speeches covering the debates thoroughly. In this way I suppose I sent out hundreds of thousands of speeches, my own and others. It is not generally known Congressional speeches, reprinted from the Record for distribution, must be paid for by the Congressman or Senator ordering them at a cost equal to that of p ny firstclass printing establishment. The size of the bills i paid the Government printing office for many years was one of the reasons why I found myself so poor when I left Congress. A Congressman in those days received only $5,000 a year, and no secretarial or clerk hire whatever unless he cßanced to be chairman of a committee. The bulk of the actual mechanical work of keeping upall this correspondence and pamphleteering fell upon Mrs. La Follette and myself. Occasionally we Indulged in the extravagance of hiring a stenographer for a few weeks, but. as a rule, while I was engaged In my congressional duties, Mrs. La Follette worked until the late hours, writing letters, addressing envelopes and sending away stacks of speeches. We do not look upon those days vith any self-pity. We were both young and vigorous and they were among the happiest and most-hope-ful years we ever spent. We gave ourselves comparatively few amusements, but those that we did take we enjoyed supremely.
Interest Keen Our Interest in the drama has always been keen, and I remember that whenever Booth and Barrett came to play In Baltimore —they never came to Washington owing to Booth’s aversion to the scene of tragedy with which his brother was connected—Mrs. La Follette and I threw discretion utterly to the winds and wens over to every evening performance while their engagement lasted. The task of building up and maintaining an intelligent interest in public affairs in my district .and afterward in the State was no easy one. But it was the only way for me, and I am still convinced that it is the best way. Os one thing I am more and more convinced with the passage of the years—and that is, the serious interest of our people in government'. Never in my political life /have I derived benefit from the two sources of power by which machine politics chiefly thrives—l mean patronage, the control of appointments to office, the use of large sums of money in organization. If you are going direct to the people, you have no need of patronage. Moreover, you have no deed of organization in the com-
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
plicated way irj which politics has been organized in the past, nor of the use of large sums of money. The only organization through which I have attained whatever success it has been my lot to win has consisted of a clerical force to send out literature and speeches, apd a manager to arrange speaking campaigns. The money for the campaigns which I have conducted—and there has never been much of it—has been supplied, not by business organizations. but~by men who were sincerely interested in the cause. (Copyright, 1924, NEA Service, Inc.) (Continued in Our Next Issue) A cripple, charged with murdering three persons because they laughed At him, was arrested in Liverpool, England, recently.
AUGUST J2URNITUKE At Last the Date is Here NOW IS THE TIME The Outstanding Event Remember That 75c equals SI.OO of the Year -At This Sale An Actual SAVING of i|B2gg|| An Actual SAVING of “BUY FOR LESS” ‘WY LESS" 3-Piece Walnut Bed Room Suites OPEN A CHARGE ACCOUNT | Another Sale Sensation Score* of bedrooms will be graced with new furniture a* a re- (J "> Eight-piece walnut dining table and buffet along with five suit or this sale, for never before have we offered aulte* of such /{ { I / diners and host chair, all in genuine . sterling qt*U.v and beautiful fin- ~ ~ Ii / L-trrr . leather. making an ideal suite for the 1 111 A A ish at prices so ridiculously low. *ll 1 AA /Mk 4 l\ smalldining room. <3> § 9 UUU different design* select p T | djning room furniture HO IT"! • ■CCI\ r 1 O * Very large variety of Lamps in o - rlece Uversturred V elour ouite uw, flo or and m** **. • All Rockers reduced to lowest To the beauty of this ssite with your own eyes and to note the rich . Floor Lamp $14.85 possible level. Genuine leather quality of the covering is to he even more amaied at the sensationally Nj 1 4 f 1 r.mn *i* ka rocker e. jy - „ low price at which we are offering it during this sale. Wonderfully comfortable ■ Jr a wfefrwß J aoie .uainp f x.ou " ,'’ V T g\ KA spring construction and with all the finer features of quality and workmanship ■ .. W Rridco T.amn aq cr fireside * | which insure years and years of real comfort and satisfaction. “BUI’ FOR LESS" JL & Bridge Lamp * F — ..* H Tapestry $22.50 Remnants, per yard 49<* Jjfjlil kI , I 9x12 Axminster . I i—„ I Felt Base, per yard....69<) I 7] Lull II Jit til ILL— 1$ [ * 9x12 Axminster $33.85 LaCSS Genuine Cork, per yard.9B<) JfT 9x12 Wilton Velvet. $09.50 All Sizes Felt Base. Rugs Re- 1 Buy For Less ——duced. “Buy for Less.” Mahogany two-tone Davenport A WHOLE ROOH FURNISHED COMPLETE ' 'iVZ.-" J' 1 ™ i..—, i. -C—’ - <2l M These suites must be seen to be appreciated. Genuine cane backs securely I j j fastened in very substantial frame. Very best spring construction em- x g ®Jr “w 3 ® ployed in base of seats loose cushion filled with Nachman spring units. Beautl- *r I ful velour coverings of several patterns colorings from which to *
FARMERS WARNED ON NEWMERGER Federation Directors Oppose Marketing. Company, Indiana Farm Bureau Federation directors today were on record against the merger of several mid-dle-western grain companies under the name of Grain Marketing Company, Chicago. Farmers warned not to buy stock in the company, on the ground it represents grain trade interests in disguise, designed to evade la’tos against illlegal combinations and monopolies. Adopted Late Wednesday A resolution branded the merger, "as illogical, and completely opposed to the best Interests of Indiana farmers.” Directors said tthey believed it an
Exam? Why, He ‘Wrote the Book’! IrTfr* ABASH, Ind„ July 31.—Somerset, Wabash County, may not WI have a postoffice when Frank Starbuck, 77, retires, and all | I because no one wants the job. Starbuck has been postmaster for thirty-seven years at the salary of S3OO a year too. He runs a flour and feed store. i He received his appointment during Cleveland’s Administration. When Woodrow Wilson became President in 1912, a postoffice Inspector visited the Somerset office. Records were found intact, but the inspector wasn’t satisfied. “I had an idea what he wanted to say.” Mr. Starbuck says. “Finally, he asked me why it was I never had taken the regular examination. I told him I had handled the Somerset office ever since I was a youngster and that I knew my business and there wasn’t any sense in me taking an examination. If they didn’t think I knew what I was about, they could get someone else. “Later the inspector went out and after talking with the Wabash postmaster he came back and told me he guessed I could stay on and that’s the last I’ve heard of examinations.”
attempt to control co-'operative grain marketing by the interests which had so bitterly opposed it. Faith in cooperative marketing along sound lines was reaffirmed. A cooperative farm marketing bill similar to the one presented to the 1923 State Legislature was discussed.
Farmer Killed by Bolt By Times Special PARAGON, Ind., July 31.—Hubert Duckworth, 23, farmer, is dead and two others, Lawrence Bowman, 20. and Ervin Thomas, 19, are suffering from shock and burns as a result es lightning striking the barn in which they had taken refuge while thrashing. Duckworth was instantly killed.
VALUATION CONFERENCE Phone Officials and Commission Seek Short Cuts. The public service commission conferred today with Curtis IL Roti> ger, president of the Indiana Bell Telephone Company, &nd B. G. Halstead, attorney, relative to expediting the inventory of the company's property. Taylor E. Groninger, legal counsel; Edward W. Bemis, engineer, and Benjamin Perk, all hired by the commission to assist in making the valuation, were present. ESTATE MONEY USED Detectives Say Administrator Admit* Improper Action. Eldra O. Love, former hotel man at Anderson, arrested at Chicago Wednesday was in jail here today on a charge of embezzlement of $25,000 from the estate of his brother, William Love, ex-contractor of Lafayette, who died in 1919. Love is held in jail in default of $25,000 bond. According to Detective Harry Hillman, Love confessed to spending part of the sum entrusted to him by the Marion Probate Court.
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